Related Clinical Services

Enteral Tube Program | Home Care Instructions for Use and Care of the MIC-G™ Gastrostomy Tube

A MIC-G™ gastrostomy tube (g-tube) has been put into your child’s stomach through a hole called a “stoma.” This g-tube has both a water filled balloon inside the stomach and a disk sitting on the outside of the stomach to help hold it in place.

Wash the skin around and under the g-tube each day with mild soap and water. If you use a dressing, change it every day or when it becomes wet so the skin does not become irritated.

Check the skin around and under the
g-tube each day for signs of irritation. If the MIC-G™ g-tube is too snug and causing irritation to the skin, gently pull back on the disk (flange) to loosen the tube.

Follow these steps to check the amount of water in the balloon once a week:

The MIC-G™ tube is held in place by a water-filled balloon. You should check the amount of water in the balloon once a week, on the same day each week.

Hold the g-tube in place and gently pull back on the syringe to withdraw the water from the balloon.

Check to make sure your child’s balloon has the prescribed amount of water. If the amount is correct, push the water back into the balloon. Then keep your finger on the end of the syringe and gently disconnect from balloon port. Keeping pressure on the syringe is important to prevent water from flowing back into the syringe. If there is less water than there should be in the balloon, add water using the syringe to make up the right amount. For example, if you were told there was 5 cc/ml of water and now there is 4 cc/ml, add an additional 1 cc/ml of water to the balloon, using the syringe

Only use distilled water or sterile water. Never fill the balloon with air. Air will leak out and the MIC-G™ g-tube will not stay in place.

If the MIC-G™ balloon has less water than prescribed every week, there may be a slow leak. If you think there is a slow leak, please do one of these things:

Give liquid medicine when possible through the g-tube. ALWAYS flush with at least 3-10 cc/ml of water (unless you have been told a different amount) before and after giving medicine to avoid clogging the g-tube.

After giving thick medicine, flush with extra water to help stop the g-tube from clogging. If your child is on a fluid restriction, talk to your doctor or nurse about how much water to use.

If a medicine is only available in tablet or capsule form, check with your pharmacist and doctor to be sure it can be safely crushed. Pills should be crushed into a fine powder and completely dissolved in water before giving through the g-tube. You can buy a pill crusher at a local drug store.

Do not mix one medicine with another or put medicine in formula, unless clearly told to do so by your child’s GI doctor. Some medicines do not mix well together.

You may give medicine through the medicine port of the tube while your child is receiving a continuous feeding. You will need to pause the feeding before giving the medicine.

If you do not know how to change the g-tube or do not have a new g-tube at home, place the old g-tube back in the stoma and cover the site with a gauze dressing. Then call your doctor’s office to have the g-tube replaced.

Important Tips:

Always keep an extra MIC-G™ g-tube on hand. Your child’s doctor or nurse will either directly give you or send off a prescription for this new g-tube to your home care supply company. Please call your home care supply company to make sure your child has active prescriptions with refills for replacement MIC-G™ g-tubes.

After using the syringe, wash it with warm water and mild soap and rinse well. Let air dry and then store in a clean area until the next use.

You should replace the MIC-G™ g-tube every 3-6 months or sooner if:

The tube has any cracks

If 2-3 cc/ml of water is missing from the balloon after two weekly balloon checks.

If the MIC-G™ g-tube is sticking out from the stomach more than when it was first placed, gently push it down flat against the surface of your child’s belly and check the amount of water in the balloon (see instructions above).

Call your child’s doctor or nurse if:

You have any questions or concerns about your child’s g-tube

If the tube is clogged

The skin around the g-tube is red, swollen, warm, sore or bleeding

The stoma has a strange smell

There is pus or drainage around the g-tube

Your child has a fever of 101°F along with any of the above problems

Your child throws up more than 3 times in 24 hours

The g-tube falls out and you cannot easily replace it

There is any redness or soreness around the skin that does not get better with routine skin care and dressing changes

Monday-Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm - Our GI nurses can help you with all types of g-tube questions. Call the GI office at (617) 355-6058 and ask to speak directly with one of the GI nurses.

Weekdays after 4:30pm, Weekends, or Holidays - Call the GI offices at (617) 355-6058 and ask to speak to the GI doctor on-call for urgent questions or emergencies.

If your child is followed by General Surgery:

Call the General Surgery outpatient nurses at (617) 355-7716 or (617) 355-7704.

Monday–Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm

Call the Children’s Hospital page operator at (617) 355-6369 and ask for the General Surgery Senior Resident on-call.

Weeknights, 5:00pm–8:30am, Weekends, or Holidays

“

Boston Children’s is so much more than a hospital—it’s a community of researchers, clinicians, administrators, support staff, innovators, teachers, patients and families, all working together to make the impossible possible.
”